Elsie was born August 26, 1925 in Burr Oak Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa to Lester and Pauline (Monthy) Bronner. She graduated from the Canton High School in 1945. On January 31, 1953 she married Gordon Thorson in Waterloo, Iowa. Gordon later passed away on January 18, 2009. They were the parents of four children LuAnn , Dean, Lori, and Betsy. They farmed Gordon’s home place near Hesper . She was an active member of the Hesper Lutheran Church and had taught Sunday school and Bible school. She had also been a 4-H leader for several years while her daughters were in 4-H. Elsie loved spending time with her children, granddaughters, and great grandchildren.
Elsie passed away Monday, November 28, 2011 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin at the age of 86.
Elsie is survived by four children LuAnn (Jim) Everett of Columbus Junction, Iowa, Dean of Decorah, Lori (Don) Van Duyn of Decorah, and Betsy of Luana, Iowa; two granddaughters Megan (Ben) Britten of Conroy, Iowa and Kristen Everett of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and great grandchildren Kaitlynn Hendrickson, and Lily and Liam Britten; and a sister Edna Orr. She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon, a brother Harold, and a sister Helen.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2011 at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa with the Rev. Matt Larson, officiating. Burial will be in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 – 7PM Thursday, December 1 at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church. |
